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In Gander, Newfoundland, the US ambassador to Canada praised the small town that took in thousands of passengers from 38 diverted planes in the hours after the attack.<\/p>\n
“When people in America hear the word Gander, our hearts soften,” Pete Hoekstra said.<\/p>\n
“As a representative of the United States government, thank you for your friendship… to the nation of Canada, thank you for being a partner and for the shared sacrifices that you made with us.”<\/p>\n
His remarks come amid fraught relations between the US and Canada, with the two countries engaged in a trade war. Ahead of the 9\/11 commemorations, some Gander residents had called for Hoekstra’s invite to be rescinded.<\/a><\/p>\n Still, Hoekstra’s speech was met with applause. But in separate remarks afterwards, former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chr\u00e9tien said: “I have message for American friends… never mistake our generosity for weakness.” He received a standing ovation. <\/p>\n In Milan, a group of Italian and US firefighters participated in a ceremonial stair climb to honour the emergency responders who died in the line of duty. <\/p>\n Dressed in their uniforms and carrying equipment, they climbed 110 floors up and down the Galfa Tower, in remembrance of the number of storeys on each of the Twin Towers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n